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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The nine-day layoff between the New York Giants' last game and this Sunday's matchup with their NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, was supposed to allow the defending Super Bowl champs to get healthy.

That isn't exactly the case, as wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was surprisingly listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report with his nagging foot issue as well as swelling in his knee. Plus, right tackle David Diehl (knee) and rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley (hamstring) were ruled out.

Nicks, who missed the blowout victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 20 along with wide receiver Domenik Hixon, suffered his knee injury in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the same play his right foot was trampled by Bucs safety Mark Barron. Just before Barron stepped on Nicks' foot, both knees hit the ground hard. The extent of issues with Nicks' knee (the left one is giving him problems) wasn't evident until this week when Nicks ran for the first time.

Hixon is listed as probable for Sunday's game after recovering from a concussion and will start opposite Victor Cruz. Ramses Barden, who had a breakout performance in Carolina with nine catches for 138 yards, will be the team's third receiver.

"You always want your counterpart in there playing in the trenches with you playing against a division foe, but it's something we have to deal with in this league," said Cruz, who did his signature salsa dance for the first time last year in Philadelphia after the first of his two touchdowns that day. "Guys get injured, guys get nicked up. We just have to understand we've been here before and guys have stepped up, so we're going to need that again this week."

The player who must step up for Diehl will be veteran tackle Sean Locklear, who began the season at left tackle but bounced to the right side when Diehl was injured early in the win against the Bucs.

This Sunday will mark the sixth missed game in a 10-year career for Diehl, who has never sat out against the Eagles.

"It's definitely tough," said Diehl, has an medial collateral ligament sprain. "Each and every year this is one of the games, the rivalry, the tradition of playing each other, the dislike of one another. This is a game you love playing because you know it's going to be a fight for 60 minutes."

Meanwhile, some players will attempt to play through pain.

Safety Antrel Rolle is listed as questionable but made progress during Friday's practice, according to coach Tom Coughlin. Rolle is working back from a knee injury suffered when he ran into a cameraman on the sideline late in the game against Carolina.

Also injured against the Panthers was cornerback Corey Webster, who broke his hand. He's listed as probable, though he'll play with a cast. He said he has tried a few kinds in practice this week and will make a decision on which to use by Sunday.

Webster said he made a pair of one-handed interceptions with his good (left) hand this week and that he won't hesitate to knock down a pass with his bad (right) hand. Given his injury, he believes the Eagles will test his ability to do so.

"I've been practicing on catching the ball one-handed. That's what I do," he said with a laugh. "I'm expecting to have a few more balls come my way. It's a great opportunity for me and hopefully we can make the best of those opportunities."

For the Eagles, not surprisingly, left tackle King Dunlap and linebacker Akeem Jordan are out with hamstring injuries. Long snapper Jon Dorenbos (high-ankle sprain) is 50-50, according to coach Andy Reid.